Automatic dial illuminator



- P 2Q 1 J. GE|RELL$ 2,195,672

AUTOMATIC DIAL I'LLUMINATOR I Filed March' 6, 1939 Patented 2, 1940UNITED STATE s PATENT OFFICE 'sv'rous'nc nnu. mums-ma Maude r. Galena.San Antonio; m.

Application March a. 1m, Serial a. man

'3 cum. 40-

This invention relates to an automatic dial illuminator, and moreparticularly to a novel and useful improvement upon the structuredisclosed in my United States Patent No. 2,147,944, dated February21,1989.

An object of the invention is to-sirnplifyand improve the prism unitdisclosed in the structure of said allowed application.

Another object of this invention is the production of a novel andusefulprismatic serratic-dlsk for an automatic dial illuminator.

Another object of this invention is the production of a singletransparent flat disk with sets of prismatic serrations formedin itsunder face. the serrations of each set having their top and bottomportions at slight angles to the serrations in the other sets, for thepurpose of receiving and distributing light rays thrown off from acommon light source.

A still further object of the invention is the novel construction of theprismatic units or sets,

involving the peculiar formation of each serration and the space betweeneach two contiguous serrations, whereby the light rays are received aand reflected or thrown throughthe disk in a.'

highly emcient manner.

With theforegoing and other objects in view, the invention comprisescertain other novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of-.parts as will beliereinafter-fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawing-and more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a disk constructed in accordancewith thepresent invention, showing the usual finger guard or stop. and a portionof the ordinary rotatablefinger disk...

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of a disk.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, inverted, perspective view of the disk,showing particularly one set of serrations.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, inverted, perspective view of the disk,showing a few serrations greatly enlarged, to better understand thenovel structure of the device. v

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary, inverted, view of the disk, whileFigure 6 is a vertical sectional view of the. same. 1

Figure 7 is partly a vertical section and partly an elevation of theautomatic dial illuminator, showing my improved disk in position on thecasing, and constituting the cover for the casing.

Referring to the drawing, in which I have shown the preferred embodimentof my invenmeans for designating. stationsto, be called, I

whichnumerals are shown at 2.

On the bottom or under face l are formedsets'oi serrations 3. Each set Iis directly ..iinder' a numeral 2 (Fig. 1). Each set 3 comprises aplurality of depending parallel serrations lJ-Fach serration l isprovided with an inclined outer .face I and an inclined inner face l.The outer face is of a more radical inclination, than comparativelystraight face I. and is of less height. This novel structure is for thepurpose of more emciently receiving the light Between each twocontiguous serrations I' there is a flat base 1- whichallowsftbe-reiiected light rays (ms. 2 and 'n that have collected ingreat density. to morereadilypass throughthis thinner portion of saiddisk I, for illuminating the numerals and the lettersjon the outer-ortop face of the disk.

Under the blank space l iFlg. i), I fonn a set of serrations I; .theseserrations are shown in s Fig. 2 as being longer than the serrations ofthe other sets 3, to causerays'from lamp it to be reflected around or bythe centr'al post, to all of said sets 3.

.The serrations in each set are at an angle to the serrations in theother sets, whereby the light rays are moreefiiciently reflected, forincreasing the volume of reflection, and thereby the elliciency of thedisclosure of the, indicating mark-- U ings on the face of the disk tothe operator.

In 'lacasingiiisshown withthedisk l setting down in the casing.and-forming the cover for the casing. Above disk I is the usualrotatable linger disk ii, and attached to casing II is the usual fingerguard or stop i2. These 40 details are further disclosed in my formerpatent, here'inbefqre referred to.

Besides forming a cover for casing II, the disk i, by reason of itsnovel structure. greatly simplines the structure shown in my formerpatent, besides increasing the eiiiciency of operation of theilluminator, because of the peculiar construction of each unit'or set I.

The pasage of the light rays from a single and common light source. I3,is indicated at A, Fig. 3,-with said rays striking against the outerfaces 5 of the serrations in each unit 3 and-unit 9.

While I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention andillustrated samein the rays from lamp. it against themes, or faces I.

ations may appear to one skilled inthe art to which this inventionrelates during its extensive manufacture of same, and I, therefore,-reserve the right to make such alterations or changes as shall'fairlyfall within the scope of the appended What I claim is: a a

1. In an automatic dial illuminator, the combination with a casing, of atransparent body on said casing and provided'on its under face with aseries of sets of serrations of uniform size; designating means on theouter face of said transparent body over each set of serrations, asingle set of serrations of greater area than each of thefirst-mentioned sets formed upon the under face of said transparentbody, and a lamp on said casing below said transparent body and directlybeneath said set of serrations of greater area, whereby the rays fromsaid lamp will be reflected by said set of larger area of serrations tothe serrations of the first-mentioned sets.

2. In an automatic dial illuminator, the com- 1 bination of a casing,and a' supporting post therein,.of a transparent cover on said casing,

said transparent cover being provided with a formed on the under face ofsaid cover and of greater length'than each of the other sets,designating means on the outer face of said transparent cover over eachof said first-mentioned sets of serrations, each of said first-mentionedsets of serrations comprising parallel serrations, eachserrationprovided with an inclined outer face and with a comparativelystraight inner face, the inclined outer face extending towards I thecenter of said casing, each two contiguous serrations being providedwith a fiat base therebetween, and a lamp in said casing under saidsingle set of long serrations, whereby the rays from said lamp will bereflected from the serrations of the set of greater length past saidsupporting post to all of the'flrst-mentioned sets of serrations. v

3. In an automatic dial illuminator, the combination with a casing andits supporting post, of a transparent cover for the casing having aplurality of circularly alined sets of serrations formed integral withthe under face thereof and a single set of serrations formed on theunder face of said cover and of greater area than each of the othersets, designating means on the outer face of said transparent cover anddirectly over said first-mentioned sets, and a lamp in the easing underthe set of serrations of greater area,.

whereby the rays from said lamp will be reflected by the last named setpast the post to all of the sets of uniform size.

l MAUDE J. GERRELLS.

